The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-10-22
"BUCKSKIN'S WIFE.
a Story of Belle Fourche Ranch
and Eldorado City.

The south wind sighed mournfully
through the tall grass around a little ranch
near Indian creek, north OF the Belle
Fourche. 1t had sighed the same way all
night and now there was faint glow in
the eastern sky and still no one came to
disturb its mournful music. For three
days, and this was the third night, the long
grass had seemed to sweep past the little
ranch in graceful, rolling waves, aud no
one had come by day to watch it bend and
rise under the steady south wind or by
night to hear its low, sweet murmuring.
Perhaps it would not have been so lonely
and complained so much had there been
any one in the little ranch.
But the ranch had been deserted for the
last three days. And, for that matter, it
was frequently deserted. There wasn't
much to it anyhow-only rude one-room
house-a "shack''-and a shed to shelter
the horses. 1t was far from any other
ranches-in fact there were very few north
Iof the Belle Fourche or in the country at
ali at this time. If you had seen it and
been acquainted with the country you
would have asked its owner, ''Buckskin,"
it was the only name he was known by
why he located it so far away from the al
ing towns south of the Belle Fodrche; [Id
lBuckskin would have told you that it was
because the grass was better, or that his
uncle in Texas was going to drive through
ten thousand head of young steers and put
on his range; or he might have told you it
was none of your business, and if you had
insisted that it was. pulled out q. most
you TO argument on the point. And Buck
skins partner would have told you the
same had you asked him. For Buckskin
and his partner had the same theories con-
corning every thing; and Buckskin, es-
pecially, was said at Eldorado City, in the
expressive language of the place. to be
''mighty handy with his gum
But Buckskin's ranch was frequently de-
serted, as l have said The few people who
knew anything about it would sometimes
wonder why he and his partner were away
so much. OF course they were often at
Eldorado City, where Buckskin spent
whole nights in gambling, frequently end
ing up with shooting affray in which he
usually 'tgot his man, But a great many
times they were neither there nor at the
little ranch, and even the few cattle which
belonged to Buckskin and his partner used
to wonder about it; and the wild. long
horned Texas cattle would stand some dis
lance away from the house and hold their
noses very high and sniff the air and then
shake their heads and walk off, ~ much
as to say that they would give itcdp; and
the Estates cattle'' in the herd-for the
little bunch was of all breeds and nation
aiities-would walk boldly up and smell of
the rough boards as if they thought it
might be a barn such as they were &C
quainted with i'll the East; and one day an
ah ho; A..
unlocked door and stepped in; but they
always went away none the wiser as to the
whereabouts of Buckskin or his partner
So it is no wonder that the south wind
sighed mournfully as it bent the tall grass
around the little deserted ranch. But on
the night speak of, along towards morn
ing. the wind and the grass ceased whis-
pering to each other, for the sound of
horses hoofs was heard coming from the
southwest across the prairie. And the
horses and their riders soon came up to the
ranch, because they had approached very
cautiously and were quite near before they
could be heard at all. There were two men
on horseback, each leading three other
horses. The men seemed TO be so much at
hone at the ranch that it could be none
other than Buckskin and his partner them
selves.
They put the horses they had been lead
ing under the shed and then they sat down
on rude seat in front of the house, each
with his rifle across his lap, while the
horses they had been riding stood before
them.
at must be three o'clock,n said Buck
skins partner, in a low voice.
eyes," replied BuckslSin.
"lts time they showed up" continued
his partner
81 reckon they will pretty quick Gimme
the bottle"
The other produced a flask and after each
had taken drink Buckskin said:
This boss business don't mount to
nothin' very great"
THAT'S so, Buckskiu"
81 tell ye we got % get that treasure
coach"
1--WE orter, Buckskn, that's sure. Il
b'beve we kin with Shorty t. help"
Cit It'll ov course we kim" answered the
other, impatiently. II could git it alone
with good luck"
"Y-e-s.-tfere's good many guards,
Buckskin."
BLANK the guardsr' he replied with, l
rear unnecessary emphasis, ''shoot 'em
This foolin' around an maxim 'em hold up
their hands an all that kind o. truck is git
Tn too tame. The next time we tackle the
MEASURE coach, me an you an Shorty, we
shoot the guards half ov 'em at least an
reckon the balance ov 'em will take the
hintn
eyes, s'posc it'u'd be good plan, meb-
py-but !? see every time we kill a man